Representation

Representation is the study of:

1. The group, place or issue on which a media product is focusing
2. The media language the media product uses in order to present these groups or issues
3. The ideological perspective about the group or issue being created within the product
4. The impact of this ideological perspective on the target audience

Stereotypes can be really impactful for some groups in a negative way. It creates labelling and fuels the vicious cycle of stereotypes.

Whenever you get a question on representation you want to say: Who/what is being represented, how is this being represented, what about them is being represented, and what impact this has.

JUDITH BUTLER - GENDER PERFORMATIVITY 

"Identity is a performance, and it is constructed through a series of acts and 'expressions' that we perform everyday."

STUART HALL - REPRESENTATION

"Media plays an important role in representation, and defines the ideological perspective audiences have towards specific individuals. Representation in media often compromises people to a few traits."

BELL HOOKS - FEMINISM 

Bell Hooks believes feminism is the fight to end a patriarchal, dominant society. She argues you can be oppressed on a variety of levels.

LISBET VAN ZOONEN - GENDER CONSTRUCTION

Van Zoonen argues that gender is constructed 

CHARACTERS

Simon 

• Simon is aged 25.
• Simon has committed suicide, therefore he could be represented as being emotionally troubled.

Camile

• Almost represented as being one of the main characters, she is the first person we focus on before and after the crash.
• She is presented as being quite innocent, arguably because of her age.
• She looks younger in comparison to the other characters which reinforces this sense of innocence.
• The mise-en-scene of her makeup and costume is plain and simple, showing her innocence in relation to her appearance.

Julie 

• Takes in the younger boy Victor, and is presented to be a numb character. This is arguably due to the attack on her seven years ago by a serial killer, although she did survive.
• She looks after Victor.

Claire

• White, middle-aged parent character, stereotypical of a mother.
• She is shocked when Camile returns and has clearly been impacted by her 'death'. This represents her as a caring mother, who cares about her children.
• Her fashion is stereotypical of a parent.
• She calls two men to help her when Camile returns, this shows her as being a dependent character. She calls her husband and the doctor.

All the main cast are white, heterosexual and look stereotypically middle cast. This is interesting as France is actually quite ethnically diverse.

QUESTION PLAN

• Adele is wearing a more revealing costume, which incorporates a low v-neck, with sheer sleeves and lace. This costume is white, which acts as symbolic coding for purity, suggesting that dressing this way is completely acceptable and innocent due to her gender and appearance. This dress is supposedly her wedding dress, showing how women should be obsessed with being married, as this is their purpose.
• The mise-en-scene of the mirror, and the long focus on this prop, highlights how a female should be obsessed with their appearance and spend a long time staring at themselves.
• The sound of the doorbell informs the audience someone is at the door, yet Adele's panicked expression anchors the idea that this is something to be afraid of, perhaps representing women as weak as they are frightened of people invading their personal space. This reinforces gender stereotypes that women should be afraid of people entering their house, when they are not with a male counterpart.
• The mise-en-scene of pink roses reinforces this idea of stereotypical femininity, as the female gender is commonly associated with the colour pink.
• Her costume contrast's Simon's, who is fully clothed. This highlight's gender expectations, that women showing more skin should be normalised, and emphasises the ideological perspective of the producer.
• Simon is presented as being very angry through the use of his performative skills, such as fiercely knocking on the door and trying to get inside. This contrasts Adele who is breathing shakily as she is nervous. This represents men as scary and intimidated, positioning them as a group which should be feared by women. The lexis of Simon's dialogue, 'open the fucking door' is very aggressive.
• The daughter comes down the stairs slowly, echoing the emotion of being scared and afraid.
• Lena says 'you're welcome dickhead', contrasts gender stereotypes as she speaks to a male degradingly.
• She is represented as being confident - she wears her long hair down and has her legs exposed.
• Simon's suit gives him a sense of legitimacy, as if his judgement should be trusted. It reinforces his purpose and his action in the episode.

Class discussion and ideas from the class:

• Lena - instruvie, chatty, forward - hair down and costume suggest sexuality. Simon ‘leading’ the way connotes patriarchal hegemony - positioning within the scene. Exposed legs and her appearance suggest a sexualised representation. Van Zoonen - male gaze - sexualised 
• Long shot of the mirror - highlights how women should be obsessed with the appearance, adele in perhaps a wedding dress? Marriage = purpose - reinforcing typical femininity 
• Adele fits the stereotype of being very emotional and overwhelmed - also acts as a nurturing mother to her daughter - reflects conventional depiction of women as maternal - Simon is unemotive and aggressive in behavior - typical of masculine identity
• Simon evokes the stereotype that men are angry and aggressive - he doesn't any emotion until this scene - the only emotion he shows is frustration, anger and aggression - Butler - performance of masculinity 
• The costume that Simon (open collar suit) is typically masculine - connotes suaveness, legitimacy, intent and gives him a purpose - reinforces his action, active within the narrative
• Suit connotes an ideology of  class (middle to higher) - suggests he is more important than Lena - patriarchal hegemony - suggests a control and dominance